Projects

Rescue & Care

As well as our medical staff, animals are cared for by our nurturers for extra support and love

The majority of our patients are street dogs, but we also regularly treat cows, donkeys and cats

Our vets assess a dog admitted with mange

Rescue & Care

Since starting in 2005, TOLFA has admitted more than 38,000 sick and injured animals to our hospital for veterinary treatment.

Our Rescue Project provides transport, veterinary treatment, love and compassion to the thousands of owner less animals that reside on India’s streets. There are animals that have been born on to the streets and those that have been abandoned by their previous owners. When sick or injured these animals have no access to veterinary care and so often suffer unnecessarily.

365 days a year, our animal ambulance responds to between 15-30 calls each day from the general public to animals that they have found in need of our services. If the problem is minor we will provide on the spot treatment, otherwise they will be transported back to the hospital where they will receive all the medicines, surgery, kindness and care that they deserve.

We make sure that once the animal is completely fit, it’s released in exactly the same spot from where it was rescued.

If you are in Ajmer, Pushkar, or the surrounding villages and see an animal in need, please call our ambulance rescue services on: 09829 965585

Rabies

We strategically catch dogs as part of our ABC (Animal Birth Control) and Anti-Rabies Program

Engaging with and educating communities is essential in the fight against rabies

As well as the ABC program we also rabies vaccinate and neuter every single dog that we admit through our Rescue Project

Since 2005 TOLFA has sterilized more than 22,000 dogs and rabies vaccinated more than 28,000

RABIES KILLS, and those most susceptible are children of rural communities under the age of 15 years. Unfortunately, in India, which has the highest incidence of rabies in the world, 95% of human deaths start with a bite from an infected ownerless dog.

Although, once infected by the virus, rabies is not treatable, it is PREVENTABLE through vaccination of the ownerless dog population.

TOLFA’s Rabies Eradication Project focuses on mass vaccination drives along with sterilization (locally known as Animal Birth Control) of the local ownerless dogs to control populations as set out in the World Health Organization’s guidelines for rabies eradication.

Rural Animal Health

A goat is examined during clinic hours at our on-site dispensary

Our vets give advice as well as treat the animals

For many villagers their animals are a part of the family

Helping local villagers care for their animals

The TOLFA hospital is based in a totally rural location where many of the local villagers rely on their animals; mostly goats; for their existence. We have witnessed over the years that not only are these animals part of making a livelihood, but also an integral part of the villager’s family.

As well as providing veterinary care to India’s street animals, TOLFA also offers free or heavily subsidised veterinary services to the livestock animals of the rural poor. Our focus is absolutely on the veterinary health and welfare of the animal, and not in the increase of production through artificial means, which is not in the animals’ best interests.

Our in-house dispensary runs a free clinic every day for these animals and villagers attend from the 10 villages surrounding the hospital.

Education

We have developed our own Education Program for schoolchildren and communities

TOLFA is welcomed by local schools to teach children the 5 Freedoms of Animal Welfare and Rabies Awareness

Children find the classes engaging. We have an accompanying workbook and animated video

“Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world”

~ Nelson Mandela

Every one of our projects contains an educational element to it, as we believe that without education nothing can change or progress. Part of being able to help animals in our community, is about dispelling a lot of the ignorance that surrounds them.

It is also about teaching children the basic five freedoms that every animal is entitled to, to prevent cruelty and neglect issues in the future. It is our aim to teach children how to become kind and compassionate members of society and take care of not only the animals in their locality but to be considerate to the environment and other human beings as well.

Our Education Project is for all groups that are willing to learn more about animals and their care. Schools, colleges, guide and scout groups and environmental clubs – all are welcome. All learning is aimed not only to be informative but also fun and interactive.

If you are a school and you are interested in either visiting our hospital or one of our staff coming to your institution to give a talk, please contact our staff member Parvin on: 09875 165585.

Pet Clinic

Our pet clinics for all owners of pets of different species, mostly dogs and cats

We are able to provide ongoing support and treatment, as well as hospitalisation or boarding in our separate pet kennels

When you bring your pet to us, or adopt a desi dog from us, we provide you with a pet record book to keep track of appointments and vaccinations

We encourage responsible pet ownership

Every day, between 10am – 1pm and 2pm – 5pm, TOLFA runs a veterinary clinic, where pet owners are able to attend on a first come, first seen basis with emergencies given priority. In our purpose built dispensary, medical and surgical treatments are available and for more in depth diagnostics such as blood tests and x rays, off site arrangements can be made.

Clients are expected to pay for all treatments and these donations join the fund to help provide free veterinary services for local villagers animals. Admission facilities are available should a pet require an ongoing course of treatment in our specially built owner dog kennels.

Ownership, especially of dogs, in India is increasing at a rapid rate and the social status of owning a pedigree breed is highly valued. Unfortunately, so many of the dog breeds are totally unsuited to the extreme temperatures of the Rajasthan desert.

TOLFA believes that the millions of ‘desi’ ownerless dogs by far make the best pets due to their suitability to climate and conditions, immunity to disease and general friendly natures. Wherever possible we try to adopt owner less puppies and kittens from our hospital to new forever homes. TOLFA in no way supports breeding practices that we feel are detrimental to the animals’ welfare.